We have had 10 head teaching strikes on this 2026 offseason, and 6 of these jobs are nonetheless open.
Most lately, the Tennessee Titans are working to finalize a take care of Robert Saleh after firing Brian Callahan in October. Jeff Hafley agreed to develop into the following head coach of the Miami Dolphins and change Mike McDaniel. The Atlanta Falcons employed Kevin Stefanski to switch Raheem Morris. And John Harbaugh grew to become the following head coach of the New York Giants, changing Brian Daboll.
Open jobs embrace the Buffalo Payments (Sean McDermott), Baltimore Ravens (Harbaugh), Arizona Cardinals (Jonathan Gannon), Las Vegas Raiders (Pete Carroll), Cleveland Browns (Stefanski) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Mike Tomlin). There have now been at the very least 5 head teaching modifications in 16 straight seasons. And per ESPN Analysis, the ten head coach strikes for 2026 are tied for essentially the most in an offseason all time with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022.
This is the whole lot you’ll want to know in regards to the newest NFL head coach motion, together with professionals and cons for the open gigs. Which jobs can be found? Which jobs are getting crammed?
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New hires | Open jobs
Head coach jobs which were crammed
New coach: Kevin Stefanski (employed Jan. 17)
Former coach: Raheem Morris (fired Jan. 4)
What occurred: The Falcons have employed Stefanski as their new head coach. The Falcons fired Morris on Jan. 4 following back-to-back 8-9 seasons. Atlanta has not made the playoffs in eight seasons, the second-longest drought within the NFL. The Falcons have additionally not had a profitable document since 2017. Along with Morris’ dismissal, the Falcons additionally fired common supervisor Terry Fontenot on Jan. 4 after 5 seasons. Their common supervisor search is ongoing. — Marc Raimondi
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New coach: Jeff Hafley (employed Jan. 19)
Former coach: Mike McDaniel (fired Jan. 8)
What occurred: The Dolphins are hiring Hafley to develop into their subsequent head coach. He joins new common supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan, who the Dolphins employed to switch longtime GM Chris Grier this month. Sullivan and Hafley overlapped for the previous two seasons collectively in Inexperienced Bay. Hafley spent two seasons because the Packers’ defensive coordinator, throughout which Inexperienced Bay ranked ninth in yards allowed per recreation, sixth in yards per play and eighth in factors allowed per recreation. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
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New coach: John Harbaugh (employed Jan. 17)
Former coach: Brian Daboll (fired Nov. 10)
What occurred: Harbaugh has agreed to the five-year deal the Giants provided him, the longtime coach instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“That is the New York Giants,” Harbaugh instructed ESPN. “I am proud and honored to be the pinnacle coach of this historic franchise, and particularly excited to work with the Mara and Tisch households. However most of all, I can not wait to get began with the good gamers on this soccer crew to see what we will accomplish collectively.”
Harbaugh, 63, spent the previous 18 seasons as coach of the Baltimore Ravens, going 180-113 and profitable a Tremendous Bowl earlier than he was fired final week after they missed the playoffs. The Giants have gone simply 7-27 over the previous two seasons and may benefit from a confirmed, profitable head coach. Harbaugh will succeed Daboll, who was fired in November. Mike Kafka served as interim coach for the Giants’ last seven video games. — Jordan Raanan
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Anticipated new coach: Robert Saleh
Former coach: Brian Callahan (fired Oct. 13)
What occurred: The Titans are working to finalize a deal to rent 49ers defensive coordinator Saleh as their subsequent head coach, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Jan. 19.
Saleh, the previous Jets coach, spent Monday in Tennessee with the Titans, and the 2 sides impressed one another sufficient to maneuver ahead collectively, sources stated.
Tennessee additionally accomplished an in-person interview with Matt Nagy on Monday. — Turron Davenport
Head coach jobs which might be open
Former coach: Jonathan Gannon (fired Jan. 5)
What occurred: The Cardinals fired Gannon after three seasons, sources instructed Schefter on Monday. Arizona completed 3-14 this season, bringing Gannon’s document to 15-36 in his three seasons because the crew’s head coach. He by no means reached the playoffs whereas additionally by no means ending larger than third within the NFC West. Basic supervisor Monti Ossenfort will spearhead the seek for a brand new head coach.
Execs of the Arizona job: When wholesome, the Cardinals’ offense can sing, and the protection can shut down groups — as evident of their Week 9 win over the Cowboys. Arizona’s roster is chock-full of proficient gamers resembling Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Josh Sweat, Walter Nolen III and Budda Baker — a strong core for any coach.
Cons of the Arizona job: A number of the accidents that decimated the roster in 2025 could possibly be lingering into the offseason and doubtlessly past. Then, there’s coping with an proprietor who’s overly involved about spending too many assets. Additionally, the three different NFC West groups completed with double-digit wins this season. — Josh Weinfuss
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Orlovsky: That is the perfect day the Giants have had since profitable the Tremendous Bowl
Dan Orlovsky and Andrew Hawkins react to John Harbaugh closing in on changing into the following Giants head coach.
Former coach: John Harbaugh (fired Jan. 6)
What occurred: Harbaugh is out because the coach of the Ravens, sources instructed Schefter on Tuesday. Harbaugh’s exit got here two days after the Ravens misplaced on the rival Steelers 26-24, which eradicated Baltimore from the playoffs for the primary time since 2021. Harbaugh had signed a three-year extension final offseason and was beneath contract by means of the 2028 season.
Execs of the Baltimore job: It is the clear-cut finest state of affairs of all the pinnacle coach openings. Baltimore has a two-time NFL Most Helpful Participant in quarterback Lamar Jackson and a Professional Bowl-filled roster. Plus, the Ravens supply a tradition of profitable — the third-most wins within the NFL (86) since 2018 — and stability. The franchise has had solely three head coaches in its 30-year existence.
Cons of the Baltimore job: The immense stress of profitable instantly. The subsequent coach is following within the footsteps of Harbaugh, the winningest coach in franchise historical past, who led Baltimore to 12 playoff appearances and suffered solely three shedding seasons. And the following coach will in the end be judged on whether or not he can take Jackson to new postseason heights. In eight NFL seasons, Jackson has simply three playoff victories. — Jamison Hensley
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Former coach: Sean McDermott (fired Jan. 19)
The Payments have fired McDermott after one other season that failed to finish in a Tremendous Bowl look, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Payments common supervisor Brandon Beane is being retained, a supply instructed ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. He’ll assist lead the crew’s seek for a brand new coach to steer the Payments’ debut season of their new stadium.
McDermott leaves Buffalo with a 98-50 document, with an 8-8 mark within the postseason. He gained 5 consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024, ending second behind the Patriots this season.
Former coach: Kevin Stefanski (fired Jan. 5)
What occurred: The Browns fired Stefanski after six seasons, the crew introduced Monday. They completed the 2025 season with a 5-12 document en path to their second straight last-place end within the AFC North and their fourth shedding season beneath Stefanski. The crew additionally introduced that Andrew Berry, who arrived in Cleveland with Stefanski in 2020, will stay in his place as common supervisor.
Execs of the Cleveland job: The Browns have an elite protection, led by 2025 sack champion Myles Garrett, that is able to compete now. The offense is a piece in progress, however the Browns could have two first-round picks and, within the phrases of Berry, “ample cap room” to spend this offseason.
Cons of the Cleveland job: Regardless of the property to make additions, there is not any clear reply at quarterback — the brand new head coach will probably be tasked with discovering an answer. With the No. 6 choose, Cleveland could possibly be out of hanging distance for a high prospect. And there could possibly be additional rising pains with the Browns needing to switch as many as 4 beginning offensive linemen this offseason. — Daniel Oyefusi
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Former coach: Pete Carroll (fired Jan. 5)
What occurred: The Carroll period with the Raiders is over after only one 12 months. The crew fired the 74-year-old coach Monday after it went 3-14 this season, which ended with a 14-12 win over the Chiefs. Earlier than the sport, Las Vegas had misplaced 10 straight and already had wrapped up the No. 1 choice within the 2026 NFL draft. Raiders proprietor Mark Davis stated in a press release that common supervisor John Spytek, who was employed together with Carroll final 12 months, will lead soccer operations with minority proprietor Tom Brady, together with the seek for the crew’s subsequent coach.
Execs of the Las Vegas job: The Raiders have 10 projected draft picks in 2026, together with the No. 1 choose. They’ve a big quantity of cap house — second-most within the NFL, per Roster Administration System. And so they have a few budding stars within the constructing, resembling tight finish Brock Bowers and working again Ashton Jeanty.
Cons of the Las Vegas job: Stability. The Raiders are making ready to rent their fifth head coach since 2021. For any candidate, the query of whether or not the group could have the persistence for them to execute their imaginative and prescient ought to come up. On the identical time, a brand new coach must take care of star defensive finish Maxx Crosby, who’s considered as a frontrunner of the group, being the topic of commerce talks. — Ryan McFadden
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Former coach: Mike Tomlin (stepped down Jan. 13)
What occurred: Tomlin has stepped down as Steelers head coach, ending a 19-year run throughout which he by no means had a shedding season. The Steelers introduced his determination Tuesday afternoon, saying his monitor document “will probably by no means be duplicated.” Tomlin, who has two years remaining on his contract, knowledgeable Steelers gamers of his determination to stroll away at their 2 p.m. ET assembly Tuesday, sooner or later after Pittsburgh was eradicated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Texans within the AFC wild-card spherical.
Execs of the Pittsburgh job: Stability. The Steelers have solely had three head coaches since hiring Chuck Noll in 1969. Which means proprietor Artwork Rooney II is prone to have persistence with the franchise’s subsequent head coach. In fact, he’ll have impossibly giant footwear to fill as he follows within the footsteps of a coach who, regardless of an 8-12 playoff document, by no means had a shedding season in 19 years on the helm.
Cons of the Pittsburgh job: The Steelers’ roster has vital query marks, starting at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year deal a season in the past, and whereas he floated the potential of enjoying in 2026, he is been clear that Tomlin was a significant component in his determination to come back to Pittsburgh. The Steelers want so as to add huge receiver assist; star edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive sort out Cameron Heyward have extra video games behind them than forward. Possession has additionally been hesitant to spend huge on teaching staffs, free brokers and amenities. — Brooke Pryor
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